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Create Employment, Promote Health by Targeting a 50% 2020 Reduction, imaginative Local Incentive Licensing of Energy, Food and Transport

2009-08-14T08:37:00.033+01:00

Open updated letter to Minda in Totnes - the transition town

Hi Minda, the idea behind transition towns is fascinating and admirable, I am not at all worried by peak oil, economists every decade or so have been telling us it is 20 years away since the 70's. What motivates me, thee and many of us, is safeguarding our planet's ecology through local action. Recently, I started to blog whilst tweeter fed me thousands of bits of information and ideas from the like minded... Now I want to talk about an idea I have!

No, I am not promoted my blog postings, although I feel my writing is leading me somewhere positive and life has taught me that all is possible if you dare. My plan is to spend time in a Welsh valley, maybe help friends finish an eco-dwelling and polish the idea up a bit for the Welsh Assembly - well there is still time...

I have contacted you because I want to debate and hone, what is an ultimate transition action. Do you have a Totnes green proactive economist? Might they be interested in a dialogue concerning what I propose in the rough draft below?

my kindest thanks
David Thomas

"The Taxation System is the most powerful tool we have to achieve a given end, not force, gifts or rhetoric. Sadly National Governments now lack the imagination to use it to save Earth’s Ecology and change things for the better!

So how might it be used ‘To Create Employment and Promote Health by Targeting a 50% 2020 Reduction’?

Local Incentive Licensing is a good a term as any, for an imaginative tax system to replace current Income & Value Added Taxation. It is also the only tool we have to achieve a 50% 2020 reduction, whilst funding a zero income tax band up to say £/$ 25,000!

A) Government Local Area Incentive Energy Licensing of Geothermal Energy Generation & Heating, Designated Local Wind Parks, LED Solar Energy Street Lighting & Local Super Grid, Electric Vehicle only Town/City Pay-As-You-Charge Parking and on .... a new generation of eco-Energy Companies with the technology to deliver and maintain a system, buying in through local area licences and then paying an ongoing licensing fee based on a percentage of income not an intangible 'profit'!

The annual income from licensing may be used in part to fund local authorities and agencies playing a proactive role, plus the cost of regionally produced User Energy Capture & Storage Systems for those families reliant on benefits, to substantially reduce their cost of energy.

An alternative energy strategy that would target a huge reduction in a Nation’s Carbon Footprint by 2020 & 2050, promote green business locally and further empower the transition of oil & gas businesses like BP into eco-energy here in the UK and around the World

B) Government Local Area Incentive Food & Health Licensing would add a distance graded tax at point-of-sale through a coded food labeling scheme to: 1) Non Organic Foods that could be grown locally and all processed foods; 2) All land & buildings used for meat production; 3) Meat & meat products produced over 10 miles ( here in Europe) from the point-of-sale would especially be subject to distance graded increasing tax.

A small Part of the annual income should be used to fund the expansion of; 1) Local Allotment & Free Seed Schemes; 2) The creation and promotion of Town Centre Food/Health Resorts with a Local Producers Farmers Market, Local Businesses, Craft Shops & Cafes, Free Staffed Crèche & Children’s Park, Exercise Park, Educational & Activity Centres, Bicycle Shop & Linked Access to Sponsored Mountain Bike Park, Gym, Low Cost Visitor Car Parking & Transport to the Resort; 3) Promotion & Support of Local Vegetable Gardening 4) Supervised Allocated Allotments for those unable to find employment ... and on

This would help counter the extreme damage that animal farming is doing to the Earth’s ecosystem; reducing the eco-cost of the refrigeration, transport, packing and treatment of non-local foodstuff; Promote a healthy life style and diet, reduce damage to our health and the cost of the Health Service from diets based on meat, poor nutritional processed food plus pesticide rich vegetables & fruit - Diets that are at least as damaging as smoking & breathing hydrocarbon emissions!; It would greatly stimulate local economies and healthy food production; It would regenerate every town centre ... and on

C) Government Local Area Incentive Transport Licensing would be used to reduce the journeys made and distances driven using hydrocarbon fuelled vehicles, by the further licensing of all such forms of vehicles used for business and transport purposes by annual distances travelled. Whilst the purchase and use of electric vehicles built-to-order locally within say 20 miles or a particular distance determined by population density, would be exempt from any form of tax. When subject to replacement, all Electric Passenger Cars used by business would be offered to employees / general public at the nominal depreciated book value, to promote the long term use of each EV.

Small businesses who produce built-to-order electric vehicles would also be free of most forms of tax thus promoting the design, technological advance, production and competitiveness of all forms of electric vehicle!

Each EV manufacturer would pass on long term replacement warranties of all energy, motive, power control and mechanical components, it had chosen to use through an eMOT service dealer. No crash testing of low volume vehicle production would take place, instead each design would comply with a generic build safety standard. Crashed vehicles that resulted in an injury, would be subject to analysis to improve build safety standards - paid for through the responsible driver's insurance.

Regional employment not robotic one flavour multi-national manufactured hydrocarbon driven cars, fast food outlets, designer shops... or over legislated controls that would rob smaller business of any part in vehicle manufacture!

I have sketched out a plan for Green Local Economic Development & Promotion on a scale that would safeguard our eco-inheritance and progeny!

Much of these proposals might find ready support in France. Whereas in Europe, the UK has perhaps the poorest locally supplied food economy, a greater percentage of the population eating unhealthy diets, sitting in traffic jams breathing fumes/particulates and addicted to shopping consumerism. There is an evident need to rebuild the economy by localising energy supply, business, employment, food production and transport through radical targeted incentive licensing.

We each hold our eco-inheritance and progeny’s future in the palm of our hand. Please let our love and imagination, drive us to create change...

Thank you
My kindest wishes for your future

Stroudy

http://stroudyonon.blogspot.com

Local Energy, Food, Health & Transport Incentive Licensing to replace Personal Taxation for those earning less than £25K

2009-08-13T00:01:00.022+01:00

The posting that follows details Green Local & Regional Economic Restructuring & Health Promotion that would not be greenwashing lip-service to our eco- inheritance, the Populations Food Quality, Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing, or the future of our Progeny!

Read my posting and ask yourself if I am dreaming? For example can you see a UK government that is only able to make real change through the taxation system, actually effectively targeting problems? Sadly no, we are again busy copying what our European Partners have been doing!

Transition to Geothermal Energy from Hydrocarbon & EDF Nuclear Electricity Generation..

2009-08-11T14:36:00.018+01:00

Future UK leadership likely to divorce themselves from No10's special relationship with EDF, perhaps by using Local Area Incentive Licensing of Geothermal Local Area Energy Generation, User Energy Storage, Designated Local Wind Parks, LED Solar Energy Street Lighting & Local Super Grid etc. and buying out existing interests if necessary.

I will develop the idea of Local Area Incentive Licensing that would promote Employment, Food Quality, Health and Transport, whilst targeting the real eco-need of a 50% reduction in our carbon footprint by 2020, through changes in the taxation and the multi-national business/banking model.

Eco-criminal business will find little value in what are to be rather imaginative proposals! So please raise queries on any specific point or area of misunderstanding, as I may fail to communicate an idea and will not have considered some specific points.

I believe in the value of these ideas and my own intuitive understanding of the scope of our problem. Yes, the aims are well understood, yet at implementation they risk being 'watered down' for political reasons, or undermined by changes wrought through the influence of special interest groups! They will also be ridiculed by porker political influences or simply those in love with the reciprocating piston engine!

So please help me detail these proposals and the success criteria fully, through debate, consideration and agreement, form the implementation plan - so making it 'our proposal' and perhaps green policy?

Our enemy is time, not just politicking foolish eco-criminal influences! So the call is COMMUNICATE & ACTION ! ! ! ! !

BP & Hydrocarbon States invest in Clean Future on a Giga $ Scale! Energy is Energy!

2009-08-10T08:41:00.019+01:00

Oil Exploration, Production & Service Companies plus Hydrocarbon Rich States begin a speedy transition away from Oil & Gas to build a clean energy future for our World. Choosing to invest in Clean Energy rather than make further investment in Expensive Offshore Exploration & Production Facilities.

The likely huge growth of electric vehicles, geothermal energy, wind and solar power will cause a matching decline in the need for hydrocarbons and nuclear power!

So Hydrocarbon Businesses like BP and Hydrocarbon Rich States like Qatar, Libya and Algeria are actively investing in the transition to meeting the demand for clean eco-energy. They now have a leading involvement in:

1. Drilling Geothermal Wells and building GeoThermal Power Stations around the World.

2. Building more eco-friendly New Hydrocarbon Power Stations based on Hydrogen Generation plus Carbon Capture & Storage to redevelop existing Oil & Gas Fields!

3. Owning and developing Wind Energy Technology and Generation Capacity.

4. Owning and developing Mega/GigakW output Solar Technology and Generation Capacity.

4. Strategic Investment in Energy Storage Technology etc.

Perhaps a future UK government will look at Incentives and Laws to further speed geothermal energy investment and this transition, with the aim of exceeding the European eco-targets set for 2020 & 2050!

Ceramatec's technology to give EV's greater range & performance

2009-08-06T18:35:00.004+01:00

So ensuring Electric Vehicle's are the first choice in personal transport.

Compact high capacity energy storage solutions will in the future allow Users of Eco-Electric Power and Electric Vehicles, to rightfully claim their Vehicles are Wind and Solar Powered!

Ceramatec's technologies, play a major role in a great many advanced projects that have eco-benefits:

Combined Fuel Separation and Energy Generating Cells.

CO2 Capture, in New Power Stations where hydrocarbon's are used to produce Hydrogen to Generate Energy. The CO2 is separated and collected, to be pumped deep in the Earth to enhance oil/gas production - this is called Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS).

Remediation of Hazardous Nuclear and Chemical Waste.

Air and Water purification.

Geothermal Energy Production - the World's Oil Industries may soon be best employed in drilling geothermal wells and building the GeoThermal Power Stations. New Hydrocarbon fueled Power Stations together with Oil & Gas Field Development, need only in the future be lawful if based on Hydrogen Generation plus CCS!

TMA Global Wind Energy Systems? Any News? Has it's radical high efficiency, low ground height Verticle Axis Wind Turbine technology been bought?

2009-08-01T21:25:00.007+01:00

Satellite Imagery use in eco-Farming to increase crop yields with minimum use of resources

2009-07-28T06:57:00.016+01:00

On a micro level an individual farmer can learn which areas of his crops need water or a boost from nitrogen to help them grow properly or which are diseased. He may then increase yields by only using what effort, fuel, water, fertiliser and chemicals are needed!

Macro level satellite imagery is being used worldwide to identify crops, then to monitor growth, condition, spread of disease and to forecast harvest levels. Such ongoing detailed information must be made public through the Internet to help ensure farmers and the ecology benefit - not those who wish to restrict access to such information, seeking to profit from markets or by controlling supply and prices.

The technology is being used to monitor eco-criminal destruction of rain forests and damage to critical ecological environments - the results show no effective controls or policing are yet in place to stop it.

It can be used to identify the true extent of eco-criminal animal farming and its damage to the Earth's ecology.

I disagree with those that might argue for the privacy of any information obtained from agri-satellite imagery to identify and monitor drug crops, used to develop and plan strategic action to stop its harvest and future planting. . The need for privacy and secrecy is questionable, as there is often a real need for the public and media to police the police and government! Satellite imaging could also identify and map heat signatures from buildings, to police the industrial farming of drug crops.

Vestas invested in Wind Turbine UK Market the British Government falsely promoted by not enabling it!

2009-07-27T12:33:00.006+01:00

'Cool' is something elusive, idividual - to be observed, not copied.

There are the cool & green like Zero Carbonista and the un-green un-cool eco-knowledgeable, highly-paid, self-serving British Government.

The World Statesman Wannabee's lot, have this time been found to be falsely promoting a popular wind power alternative-energy initiative by ignoring the need for urgent enabling actions - including the fast-tracking of planning permissions for Wind Turbine Parks.

Weak government seems therefore to be in league with the selfish 'Nimby' voters. A problem these overpopulated islands do not share with the likes of Denmark and France.

So self-centred Politicians and the Nimby are seen to care little for the future of their progeny or the eco need - are they planning to sell-up and move away from Earth?

No10 & No11 are thought to have offered money to Vestas to keep open one of the largest green businesses in UK that manufactures wind turbine blades and so save some 600 jobs. Vestas we believe told them, that they did not want money as they had invested in a market that the British Government was falsely promoting by taking no action to enable it!

Surprise, today's 'Hope For The PLANET' eco-award goes to the US Military!

2009-07-24T18:59:00.003+01:00

War driven strategic requirements to deliver alternative-energy eco-technology with commercial applications is a hope for an eco-future.

U.S. Military development of alternative-Energy Technology may save countless lives and help US Ground Troops become superbly effective in Afghanistan. . . . .

DARPA’s growing investment in alternative-energy is aimed at freeing the majority of trained troops and equipment employed in delivering fuel supplies and to make the U.S. Front Line Brigades more mobile and effective.

It will also deliver the Department of Defence the secondary benefit of a huge reduction in the cost of fuel delivered to the War Front - from some hundreds if not tens of thousands of dollars per gallon!

A lasting achievement of the conflict in Afghanistan may now be advances in alternative-energy technologies created through military projects with near impossible success criteria!

Already battle ready versions of compact, sturdy fuel cells will soon power a soldier’s mobile devices for longer and be a tenth of the weight of the 25 lb batteries used now.

The press advise that the military contractors manufacturing the fuel cells are working on commercial versions for the police and recreational vehicles.

In the drive to create a viable alternative-energy future the U.S. military’s strategic 'Blue Sky' procurement needs make them a very serious eco-player and my today's HOPE for the PLANET...

May their alternative-energy technology budget of $ 100,000,000 have another digit added, making it one billion dollars......

Low global oil production leading to higher oil price levels at demand levels below 2008

2009-07-24T17:26:00.005+01:00

The oil rig count is expected to increase as drill bit ordering rises, as the oil industry forecast an increase in oil prices with some high spikes!

Will this further fuel green business and the development of alternative-energy technology?

sweet tweet accolade from a fellow eco-cyclist after only 10 days a blogspot posting tweeter......

2009-07-23T21:46:00.006+01:00

..... Thank You

ClimateRider

" Great blog site @stroudyonon - http://stroudyonon.blogspot.com "

I find writing a blog and generating a tweet cathartic. The views and solutions are my own and I do like to express them - I hope no one thinks they are extruded!

When a twit spams or bores me, so that I miss a Tweet or two from stephenfry, AnneliesePlace, TheGoGreenBlog, etc. I UNFOLLOW them!

Twitter is my best tool to pursue specific interests, garner information and research a particular subject. I also enjoy the continuous stream of Tweets from the humorous, the informed and the interesting to alert, update, inform, motivate and cheer me.

So I choose to FOLLOW new Twitters and UNFOLLOW others daily.

Twitter is not about gratifying your ego through how many FOLLOWERS you have, although its nice when individuals choose to follow with real interest and friendship.

So lets enjoy RocknRoll honest comment and savour like minded humorous Tweets, whilst making this immensely powerful communication tool work for each of us in different ways.

My Blog Postings generate the majority of tweets via tweeterfeed and I intend to archive on my public Profile page and upload copy.

I either blog openly on a given subject and problem, or consult privately.

In Rural Africa bicycles empower education, health & income opportunities, especially for women! Near Affordable sustainable transport for

2009-07-23T20:27:00.005+01:00

....people, crops, goods, students and health workers!

Making bikes available and affordable to rural communities is the work of small organisations such as Village Bicycle Project in Ghana and BEN Namibia run by Michael Linke. What is achieved through there efforts is amazing.....!

Is there a need for an African Bicycle, but not just a purpose designed, simple, robust bike with integral cargo frame, the gearing range and large strong wheels to ride over rough country tracks - cargo carrying bikes that can be easily repaired locally. No, we need this project to somehow drive the real need to make quality bikes available in a big African way!

So why not a high profile iconic bicycle and a project that involves the best: those that are doing it now; World famous designers and one of the biggest quality mountain bike manufacturers!

A designed for purpose bike specified in Rural Africa to meet an agreed Success Criteria That includes it being available in rural Africa at agreed Target Prices.

A Bike Supply Project to empower sub-Saharan Africa - its that big.

The bike, would not be something like the wonderful Bullitt fast cargo bikes you see in Copenhagen designed by Larry vs Harry, or the amazing long wheelbase Surly Big Dummy from North America.

No, what I am talking about is simply a bike specified for Africa and African Villagers by the Village Bicycle Project & BEN, yet designed for purpose by people or a designer like Andrew Ritchie of Brompton folding bike fame &/or the design team at Trek &/or one of the great French VTT designers - who have a track record of innovation, of meeting real market needs and delivering against a given success criteria.

Such a project, the bike and the aims would achieve a very high profile. The manufacture would fund design and production and it would trigger an increasing stream of direct aid funding and expanding all the projects throughout rural Africa.

The bike itself could be made in part in Vietnam or Cambodia by the company that makes all the bikes for GIANT and Specialised, with final assembly in Africa at Village Bicycle Projects in Africa in Ghana, the Bicycling Empowerment Network in Namibia etc

The brilliance of the iconic sturdy design and the cost of the bike would assure a ready market. It will look very much like any other bike accept the carrying frame will be a highly integrated part of the bike frame and it would use proven reliable tough component's.

Do you feel as strongly as me about getting this going?

Well this is what Michael Linke of Bicycling Empowerment Network says:-

"Numerous studies have demonstrated that bicycles are an appropriate technology for travelling short distances in developing countries, with the lowest operating costs of all available modes in sub-Saharan Africa.

A standard bicycle carries up to four times the weight, goes twice as far and travels twice as fast as a person walking.

Bicycles will:

Improve access to income generation opportunities.
Provide sustainable transportation for low-income earners.
Increase access to government services, including health care and education.
Mobilise home-based care volunteers to visit more people living with HIV.
Provide sporting opportunities for young athletes.
etc"

I wish to state again that the availability of bicycles also empowers Women!

Stressed ecoWarrior? Depressive Tree ecoWorrier? AnxietyAttacked Bee&Frog Activist? ProcessedFoodSuicide no answer! ! ! !

2009-07-22T09:08:00.018+01:00

The fate of every living thing and our progeny is under threat, if you're stressed by the lack of real action this article can only help by helping you fight on.. (I have started working on a series of blog posts regarding the need to ban processed foods - if you can wait these articles will give you pointers on how not to commit suicide by processed food!)

As we evolved, so did a short lived stress response that might have had us ready to run away, hide or fight. Today, this biological reaction switches in because of intense, ongoing stress and can be impossible to turn off!

Our responsibilities, needs and love anchor us in a mixed array of possibilities and situations, making it impossible to avoid others whose own issues and behaviour impact on us.

Our quality and enjoyment of life is impaired and we will likely carry on accepting stressful circumstances or some form of harassment, until we suffer mental and physical ill health. So beware this can kill you or at the very least shorten your lifespan - act decisively now!

If you have experiencing some of life's traumas, then your now highly susceptable to stress. When biological change in the brain kicks-in you cannot deal with any situation without a confusion of feelings.

So day after day, we will continue to be pulled in different and varied directions, with our reactions to situations and individuals creating yet more stress.

Then we start to experience real anxiety together with that mixed bag of feelings such as inferiority, uselessness, guilt, worthlessness etc We are sliding into a deep depression. Although at times we can maddened or driven to get our own back, such that we seethe with the desire for revenge, becoming unreasonable and socially dangerous.

So, stress and the brain's functioning lack of harmony has resulted in mental illness. Now also lacking self confidence we become highly sensitive to social issues and threats - a whirlpool of vicious circles drawing you down deeper and deeper. Ongoing biological change may now leave us knocked out, ceasing to function and living in helpless dread with thoughts of suicide! To be hospitalised or put on drugs for life.

Yet, if we act early enough, self treatment techniques hold a promise of our acting normally again.

To get better we also need to distance ourselves from the causes of stress, albeit a partner, work or life's challenges. Change, that may involve taking time away, divorce, a change of direction....

Self treatment can empower an individual to challenge depression without the use of drugs. This is reliant on your growing recognition of depressive thoughts and processes.

This toolbox of strategies is called 'Cognitive Behavioural Techniques', to retrain thought processes and help the brain come back into balance.

So take early action when suffering stress, seek a medical opinion, involve a Psychotherapist and get Friend's support.

Next, begin to make real Changes to your Life Style, consider Personal Transitions, chat to Friends daily, eat a healthy nutrient rich Real Food Diet and take Exercise - all these actions will help speed your recovery....

(Stroudy's Synopsis of the Self Help Guide to Cognitive Behavioural Techniques for Depression ISBN I-84119-125-6)

Low global oil production will lead to increased oil price levels even at demand levels below 2008.

2009-07-22T09:02:00.002+01:00

The oil rig count is expected to increase as drill bits ordering rises, as the oil industry forecast an increase in oil prices with some high spikes!

Will this further fuel green business and the development of alternatve energy technology?

Is Zero Carbonista's faster than a Ferrari electric car testing revolutionary technologies to save our World?

2009-07-22T08:07:00.001+01:00

Is Zero Carbonista's faster than a Ferrari electric car testing revolutionary technologies to save our World?

Perhaps it does not need a heavy battery because of a revolutionary generator that develops up to 5 times the electricity you input! Impossible! Probably?!

If it was true Stroud's green outlaw hero and eco-entrepreneur Vince Dale would already be actively establishing an even larger European network of home micro generators and microgrids whilst investing hugely in new Ecotricity's Wind Parks - Well, Vince is!?

Dreaming on, because if it worked and the first stage electric supply was from a wind turbine or solar energy, the only choice then would be to invest in eco micro-generation and gain income as an exporter of power to the grid!

So eco-warriors and eco-worriers, this is a dream that would allow us activists to concentrate all our efforts on the major criminal impact to the Earth's ecology, the farming and consumption of meat! Whilst leaving everything else to Zero Carbonista!

A proven Magniwork technology would also revolutionise the design of space vehicles and might help thaw the control over politicians that eco-criminal big business has... Wake up, stop dreaming and act!

QUESTIONStoTWITBROOM

2009-07-21T14:44:00.007+01:00

OKtoADDtoPROFILE TwitSPAMfedTWITBROOM ? SuggestionsHow? CanYouBrush and Sleep? IsTwitDeceitSpamCleaning a Calling? sheetWHAThaveIstartedTHIStime?

Twitter only gives you 140 character spaces and I thought it a shame not to use them to communicate fully?

If it gets popular, where will it go?

Wind driven

2009-07-19T20:32:00.007+01:00

Zero Carbonista has done it, is doing it, is sponsoring it, is enjoying the ride and has both politicians and big business taking more care with those false green claims.

Now Stroud's own green hero and eco-entrepreneur tweets as zerocarbonista, blogs and talks on a hydrogen fuel monopoly, meat farming and consumers destroying our planet etc. etc. etc..

Vince Dale also started to plant an eco-forest where as a new age traveller he used to live in an old military vehicle. His being just a little less diplomatic and usually more casually dressed than our other local green hero Prince Charles is thought of as a very good thing by us Stroudies!

A bike for rural Africa

2009-07-18T22:47:00.011+01:00

No, this is a long wheelbase Surly Big Dummy with its choice of slip-in bolt-on raised rear carrier systems has a 180 kg maximum loaded weight and a few have taken it off-road trekking?!

Xtracycle Inc also do bolt-on long wheelbase extensions for any full size bike that take the same seperate carrier systems. As I have previously said, you can find niche markets for some interesting bicycles in North America.

Now I have a re-geared GT Mountain Bike with standard front and rear panniers, that I toured France with this June with an all up load of 160 Kg - it gets you fit!

In Africa, you simply load up and then passengers climb on. So this long wheelbase Surly Big Dummy large rear carrier would invite a sagging bang-crash-wallop of a load!

The bike frame and drive are the key factors in producing an African Cargo Bike.

Through good design, a single sized, smaller, sturdier and much lighter frame incorporating the carrier, might easily carry a 50 odd kg sack on each side with at least one passenger on top, in addition to the weight of the bike and cyclist.

But don't you just want to race a Surly Big Dummy or a Kopenhagen Bullitt across America?

World Naked Bike Movement

2009-07-18T15:54:00.008+01:00

Another fashionable, green and peaceful major bike advocacy movement is WNBR, so ride naked with others somewhere around the globe.

The Cycle Chic or Velo Chic bicycle culture...

2009-07-18T15:09:00.011+01:00

is a growing Fashionista Bike Advocacy movement, that can mean almost anything to those that participate through choice and others who just do it naturally. Most often riding dress friendly classic and retro town bikes.

A free original international fashion show on two wheels that is best observed in bike friendly cities or if you wish on the web by visiting 'Cycle Chic from Copenhagen for The Original Streetstyle and Bike Advocacy in High Heels' and link worldwide.

The other fashionable, green and peaceful major bike advocacy movement is WNBR, which stands for the World Naked Bike Movement. To ride naked with others visit http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Links

I really should own up, well come out with it, well what I mean is.....‏

2009-07-18T14:01:00.003+01:00

This is hard, how do you say it and why do it now, its not if anyone should care is it? Best to start with something different, perhaps leave it till tomorrow or another day.. Today I could just mention good stuff, like I gave up driving nearly three years ago and cycle everywhere; that I have really tried to leave the rocknroll erotic stuff alone for a little while saving it for the one I love and that I am succeeding.. So who cares if I am a Hash House Harrier, run in circles, drink beer in circles and sing rugby songs.. I might ride with the QUAFF and thecranks bashes, be setting the MTB / VTT singletrack trails for NashBash 2010 near Sherwood Forest.. this is the good stuff, Oh did I mention I am in love, yes I did and it was something I really should have told you at the start..

MTB / VTT Trail Riding Frustration

2009-07-18T13:18:00.007+01:00

Our mountain bikes take a lot of hammering with the drive train being subject to catastrophic damage in the middle of nowhere. I and my friends have more chain drive problems and expense than anything else.

We know and accept the sport of mountain biking is expensive as are great mountain bikes.

Other than good maintenance, there exist exciting solutions that stop the frustration of drive train damage, add to our riding ability and the enjoyment of every trail!

I plan a series of blog postings on these solutions and the huge benefits a trail rider obtains, but now I am off on a testing test ride!

God have mercy..

2009-07-17T18:27:00.006+01:00

..save the Vulcan, a campaign to save the oldest pub in Cardiff has had their prayers answered with a three year extension.

Back on the first of April I mooted and reported a sound commercial and imaginative (of course) architectural engineering solution via the Brewery to the Developer.

The suggestion is and was to incorporate the Vulcan frontage into the new 20 storey building, but at least one floor up!

This would create huge visual impact! Whilst allowing the Vulcan public and service areas, plus current fittings, to be built into the building and remain the pub we love!

Everybody gains, nobody loses and Cardiff has an extraordinary architectural art piece - sorry no artists impression?

I did also contact Rachel Thomas of the campaign via facebook, who confirmed that: The Vulcan must stay where it is and that there is no reason at all why the developers can't incorporate it into their plans!

Mercy indeed, with a floating Vulcan high over the streets of Cardiff still possible - because Stroudy likes the Vulcan in Cardiff

Growing a following..

2009-07-17T15:46:00.005+01:00

It will take me time, effort, care or fame to have the reward of a real Following of interested or amused Twitters.

Care particularly, as when launching yourself into the world of Twitter, early Follower relationships can start out by being not one of actual interest but possibly commercial interest; Or sadly a mutual ego trip contracted between two Twitters i.e. 'You follow me and I follow you.

The WORST Twitter relationships will be manufactured by web sites like AddFollowers who by deceit obtain control of your Twitter Account to promote themselves by Twittering on in your name and adding more sites to those you are already Following.... a service they seem to get paid for by over eager entrepreneurs or egotistic Twitters!

The BEST Twitter relationships will always be those based on a mutual interest or friendship.

What Nordic diet ?

2009-07-16T18:10:00.007+01:00

Recently, the traditional Nordic Diet was found to be as good or better than the Mediterranean Diet. As climate change may mean Southern Europe sees desert and sea encroaching, with viable homelands disappearing. Studies of traditional foods grown in extreme temperatures and weather may have life saving relevance to those of us remaining in Britain reliant on wind/solar power and local produce . Whilst warring millions fight to find a home, food and potable water in what is left of Europe.

So lets ponder the diversity and difference in just two of the Worlds healthiest diets, whilst considering that it will be Global Warming that will decide if Northern Europe will eat a Nordic, Mediterranean or Saharan diet - as Europe gets hotter, homelands become lost and the World sinks towards unimaginable anarchy and banditry on a massive scale.

A recent Telegraph article discussed research by Elling Bere from the University of Agder, Norway, who found that native berries from northern Europe such as blueberries, cowberries and cloudberries contain as much unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids as cold water fish. These berries are very rich in antioxidants, which reduce the levels of harmful molecules that build up and damage cells, leading to diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, have now set up a 13.3 million Euro project aimed at identifying, testing and undertaking trails with more regional to help create a "New Nordic Diet".

Rapeseed oil is a good alternative to olive oil and contains more omega-3 fatty acids as well as being a good source of vitamin E. Whilst being safer for your health when used in frying. I myself highly recommend Hillfarm extra virgin cold pressed rapeseed oil from Sussex and Sainsburys!

Cabbage and other brassica species such a kale and Brussels sprouts which thrive in cold-weather conditions, were found by scientists at the University of Oslo to contain some of the highest levels of antioxidants of any vegetable and to be a good source of vitamin K, important in blood coagulation.

Traditional Nordic diets are high in fish with particular preference for salmon, trout, cod and herring - cold water fish that will begin to disappear as fisheries become warmer.

Prof Astrup also believes that game meat from animals such as elk and reindeer, and birds such as grouse, should also form a greater part of people's diets as these meats tends to be leaner than farm-reared livestock (rabbit too). So meat eaters may get one meal of meat a month when we outlaw the farming and slaughter of billions of animals a year - that now criminally contributes the majority of damaging gases to the Earth's atmosphere.

Trina Hahnemann, a Danish chef who recently published The Scandinavian Cookbook, adds that in Scandinavia and Britain, traditional diets had been abandoned in favour of processed foods and southern European cuisine.

She believes that people have lost their food culture and forgotten about how foods suited to northern climates can be healthy. She points out that in Britain we have a lot of nutritious kale and that almost no one realises that you can eat it raw like lettuce.

Today we continue to allow the sale of nutritionally impoverished processed foods that are made to taste acceptable with additives, flavours, simple sugars and salt. Paying for it in lives and a grossly expensive health service? Should we call these industrial products poisons and outlaw them to?